Page 587 of Filthy Elites

What would she do when upset? She wasn’t exactly mad about what I’ve thrown at her. Just frustrated, and overwhelmed, I think. So, what would she do, go for ice cream? To the mall? To a friend’s? I have no idea. The walk into town is half an hour long, and I might have headed that way if I didn’t know Erica walked to the falls just last week.If I follow by car, I could miss her. She could have crossed into private grounds to take a shortcut.

My phone beeps. I glance at it, hoping for a sign from her, but I only get a message from Rhys.

I click on the link he sent me, and my map opens, with the directions to a remote point just one mile up the hill. I was right, she went to the falls.

I want to strangle her. It’s dark and the trail’s treacherous in the winter. Even during the warmer months, it can be rather tricky, hence my choice of car. What if she fell into a ditch? What if—

I’ve only left the paved road for the start of the muddy path when a car slows next to me.

Roman’s passenger door flies open. “Get in!”

I slide into the Lexus. “Just ahead, up the road.”

My Jeep would be better for the terrain, but I’m not wasting the seconds it would take to get it out of the courtyard.

He nods. “Rhys sent me the phone’s last ping. I was already on my way to your place, anyway.”

We get to the location in minutes. Rom’s car stops just as two other sets of headlights light up the path. I spot her phone right away: the screen’s lit up. I rush to grab it. The screen’s glass is broken, but it’s still warm.

Rhys and Cam get out of their cars, joining me. “Should we call the police?”

Fuck.

It’s not like I’m a stranger to this scenario. Having money puts a big target on our backs. Two of my childhood friends were kidnapped when we were just ten. Only one of them made it home.

“The police aren’t even going to consider her missing for another twenty-three hours,” I say, my jaw set. I couldmakethem take the case seriously, but I don’t want to waste my time dealing with paper-pushers when I should be out here, helping my woman.

“Look here.” Cam squats a few paces away, his phone’s flashlight shining on a muddy puddle. “Someone fell down. And see those tracks? It looks like they were dragged.”

My heart stops.Dragged.

“Fuck. We definitely need the cops now.”

I aim the flashlight of my phone toward the direction Camden’s looking at.

“You go ahead and call, Rom,” Cam says. “Get Erica’s friends here, too. If we find her, she might need them. Her mom, as well.”

“She has friends?” Rom’s genuinely perplexed. “And why would she need them?”

I’m grateful that Cam doesn’t spell it out. When a pretty young girl goes missing and words likedragged get thrown around, there’s a slim chance of finding her alive and unharmed.

“I’ll send you their numbers,” Rhys tells Rom. “Stay here so you can tell the authorities where we’re headed.”

We follow Cam, who keeps his phone light low on the ground, following footprints.

“Who knew all of your hunting trips would pay off?” Rhys’s attempt at humor falls flat.

“I knew,” Camden replies. “Why do you think I let my uncles take me hunting in the first place?”

We’ve all grown up knowing it was possible; that one of us could be taken one day, because of our last names and our bank balances.

They can take me. Not her. Never her.

I check my phone’s battery—it’s almost gone, as I haven’t charged it since last night. I send my father a quick text and put it back into my pocket in an effort to save what remains of the battery.

“The tracks leave the main path over there,” Cam says, light shining toward thick bushes.

I don’t hesitate to head in that direction.

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